Pressure cooker and mold



June 28, 1938. R 1 KAHN vPRESSURE cooKER AND MOLD Filed oct. 2, 1954 HIS ATTORNEYS Patented `lune 28, 1938 PATIENT or rice UNITED Ns'mrlzs .2 Claims.

'My invention relates to `pressure cookers, `and has among its objects and advantages Ithe provision of an improved p-ressure and molding apparatus for foods in which the molding action 5 takes place during the cooking of the food.

In the accompanying drawing: l

Fig. l is a top plan View illustrating my linvention;

Fig. 2 is an end View;

`l() Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 of Fig.' 1;'

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View along the line 45--5 of l5 Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along theWlineG-s of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of mold box.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a box Ill comprising two parts I2 and I4 hingedly connected together at I6. The bottom sections of the parts I2 and I4 have diagonal overlapping relation at I8. I provide a reenforcing flange 28 around the upper edge of the box I0 and arrange the hinge I6 to project beyond its respective corner of the box. To detachably connect the parts I2 and I4 together, I provide a latch comprising one or more resilient hooks 22 welded at 24 to the part I4 and having an end extending through openings in flanges 26 and 28 formed integrally with the parts I2 and I4, respectively. The hooked end extends over the flange 26 slightly to yieldingly hold the two flanges in juxtaposed relation.

My box contains the food product to be cooked vand comprises the mold for the product. The split box permits the cooked and molded product to be removed intact by merely separating the parts I2 and I4. Pressure is applied to the food product during the cooking period for molding purposes.

In Figs. l and 3, the pressure plate 30 is coextensive with the box I0 and is provided with flanges 32 fitting snugly within the walls of the box. Upon the pressure plate 30 I mount two standards 34, each comprising a pair of spaced plates 36, see Fig. 4. I weld the flanges 38 of the plates to the pressure plate 30, and bend each plate to provide two vertical flanges 4l). Each pair of spaced plates 36 is provided with a floor 42 having flanges 44 for supporting the plates in spaced relation.

I pass a bolt 46 through each pair of spaced plates and mount a coil spring 48 upon each bolt. 'Ihese sprngshave their ends '56 extending upwardly .in angular relation and support a pressure beam 52 arranged between the two pair of plates and extending beyond the end of the de vice. I provide the flanges y54 of the beam with two pairs of cross '.pins 56 arranged in contact with the ends 56 for flexing the springs .48. I curve the spring ends :56 at '58 to prevent'the ends from engaging the beam'52 in case of structural Variations which might bring the ends into engagement with the beam. In this way, thespring ends embodymaximum length for co-opera'tion vwith the pins '56.

I provide a plurality of guide hooks "6U upon the anges, which hooks embrace the flanges 40 Afor guiding the pressure beam 52. Each .end of thebeam is provided with a cross bolt 62 upon which I pivotally mount a latch member 64. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the box I0 is positioned within an open basket 66, which basket fits the box snugly and is provided with two laterally projecting ears 68 shaped for reception within any one of the openings IU in the latch members 64.

In operation, pressure is applied to the conf tents I2 by the pressure plate 30. The springs 48 determine the pressure upon the contents 12. After the contents 'I2 have been placed in the box I0, the pressure plate 38 is placed within the box and pressed down on the contents. the beam 52 is pressed downwardly between the plates 36 against the tension of the springs 48 and latched in its depressed position by connecting the latch member 64 with the ear 68. The amount the beam 52 is depressed will, of course, determine the spring pressure upon the contents.

My basket 66 provides protection for the box I0 and holds the parts I2 and I4 in assembled relation against any spreading action due to internal pressures.

The arrangement is such that an irregularly shaped mass placed within the box I0 and cooked therein, as by steam, submerging the entire device in boiling uids, or otherwise heat treated, will be formed into a regularly shaped block of uniform thickness from end to end, and side to side.

Referring to Fig. 6, the horizontal bands 'I4 comprising a part of the basket 66 are shaped to provide loops 'I6 for receiving the hinge I6 and the anges 26 and 28 and their associated fasteners. In this way, the hinge and fastening parts lie outside the box III and do not interfere with the shaping of the contents 12.

At this time,

hingedly connected together at 88 in the same Way as the box I and are provided with spring fastening clips 9U of the same type. The diierence resides in the provision of an ear 92 upon each part 84 and 86 which performs the same function as the ear B8. In this form, I eliminate the basket 66.

Obviously, the box lil may be shaped to meet specic requirements depending upon the nature of the foods to be treated therein.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A pressure cooker and mold comprising an inner container consisting of two sections, each section comprising an end wall, a side wall and a bottom part having a meeting edge extending from one end of the end wall to one end of the side wall, the meeting edges of the bottom parts being normally arranged in overlapping relation, a hinge for hingedly connecting the two sections, said hinge being positioned exteriorly of the inner container at substantially the meeting point between the end wall and the side wall of the other section, latch means for connecting the sections in latched relation, said latch means being located at one corner of the container diagonally opposite the hinge and being positioned exteriorly of the container, a pressure plate operating within the inner container, and means cooperable on the pressure plate and said outer container for urging the pressure plate inwardly of the inner container, said outer container cooperating with the inner container in such a manner as to resist separation of the sections incident to heavy pressures therein.

2. A pressure cooker and mold comprising an inner container consisting of two sections, each section comprising an end wall, a side wall and a bottom part having a meeting edge extending from one end of the end wall to one end of the side wall, the meeting edges of the bottom parts being normally arranged in overlapping relation, a hinge for hingedly connecting the two sections, said hinge being positioned eXteriorly of the inner container at substantially the meeting point between the end wall and the side wall of the otherY section, latch means for connecting the sections in latched relation, said latch means being located at one corner of the container diagonally opposite the hinge and being positioned exteriorly of the container, an outer container closely embracing the inner container, a pressure plate operating within the inner container, and means cooperable on the p-ressure plate and said outer container for urging the pressure plate inwardly of the inner container, said outer container cooperating vwith the inner container in such a manner as to resist separation of the sections incident to heavy pressures therein, said outer container being so shaped as to embrace the hinge and said latch means.

ROBERT J. KAHN. 

